Just when you thought next week's Giro d'Italia Grande Partenza in Jerusalem could not get any more controversial. Never mind accusations from human-rights groups that the race is being used as a political tool by Israel, or the fact that the pre-race favourite will be riding under the threat of a possible doping suspension, news that Lance Armstrong is planning to attend the start of the first grand tour to kick off outside of mainland Europe - to report on it for his Stages podcast - sent cycling message boards and social media into frothy and entirely predictable meltdown on Tuesday Wednesday NZ time.

Reaction to stories concerning the Texan tend to follow a fairly Armstrong klar for giro ditalia pattern by Armstrong klar for giro ditalia, of course. This was no exception. The second half was basically of the opinion that the first half should get over it. At the risk of sounding soft on crime, we must be getting to the stage now where most sane people would side with the latter group.

Clearly Armstrong does not deserve to be the Giro's guest of honour in Jerusalem.

Jan. Ist das Verfahren bis...

The year-old was a whopping great cheat and - of more relevance where his current treatment by the sport is concerned - a bully, who ruined the careers of many of those who threatened him. He is now serving a lifetime ban from the sport for doping offences.

That is all well and good.

David Lappartient hat viel vor...

It is also unfair. Armstrong has a point when he talks of the double standards in cycling. While other ex-dopers run teams or commentate on races, he is banned for life.

Yesterday brought a ceasefire to...

While riders Armstrong klar for giro ditalia as Marco Pantani, Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich have all been allowed to keep their Tour wins, there are only blank spaces next to the years in which Armstrong reigned. While Pantani remains a hero in Italy - the Giro has in the past visited the statue of him on the Galibier - Armstrong cannot even go and watch a race from behind the barriers alongside other members of the public, Armstrong klar for giro ditalia being told he is going too far.

It cannot be one rule for one and another for everyone else. Besides, there are much bigger things to worry about than whether or not Armstrong attends a race; whether the Giro should even be going to Israel, for a start. Whether the race is being used as a tool to "whitewash" the image of the country, as one human-rights group has alleged.

Whether RCS is completely out of its depth on all this. Armstrong's presence in Israel - while it adds another nice little subplot to the overarching narrative - is irrelevant by comparison. And whisper it, his podcast is also rather good. Fury over Lance Armstrong Giro d'Italia visit ignores real issues. Lance Armstrong should be entitled to watch a race like any other member of the public. Lance Armstrong's Tour de France wins have been expunged from the record books. Apr.